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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:12 - 15:19
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Co_15:12-19
12Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
1Co_15:12 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence, which implies Christ was being preached (cf. 1Co_15:11).
▣ "how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead" The source of this denial of the resurrection probably had its origin in Greek philosophy (i.e., Gnosticism, see glossary), which thought the physical body was the source of evil. It is textually uncertain whether they were denying the resurrection of Christ or the resurrection of all believers. This was not a unique problem in the early church (cf. 2Ti_2:18).
1Co_15:13 "if" This is another first class conditional. It is often called by grammarians a " simple" or "logical" condition (cf. 1Co_15:13-17; 1Co_15:19). Obviously in this verse Paul is using it to heighten his literary argument and not asserting that Christ has not been raised! But the logic in these next few verses is powerful. If Christ has not been raised then:
1. there is no resurrection at all, 1Co_15:13; 1Co_15:16
2. our preaching is vain, 1Co_15:14
3. your faith is vain, 1Co_15:14
4. they are false witnesses, 1Co_15:15
5. your faith is worthless, 1Co_15:17
6. you are still in your sins, 1Co_15:17
7. those who have died have gone, 1Co_15:18
8. we are of all men most to be pitied, 1Co_15:19
This theological issue of the resurrection of Christ is no minor issue! He is alive or Christianity is a lie! This is a watershed doctrine!
1Co_15:14; 1Co_15:17 "vain. . .worthless" These two different terms imply empty and fruitless. Without the resurrection the claims of the gospel message have no effect!
1Co_15:19 "if we have hoped in Christ in this life only" This is a first class conditional sentence. Paul is making the point that if Christ was not raised we only have hope (periphrastic perfect active) in this life because there is no afterlife-if Christ has not been raised!